Notice of Intent to Sole Source: IT Support for NOAA Employees and Contractors at the Joint Hydrographic Center

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide Information Technology (IT) support for NOAA personnel and/or contractors at the Joint Hydrographic Center (JHC) at the University of New Hampshire, including remote personnel.

This SOW outlines three packages for IT support:

• Package A: Computers and Services: Provides IT needs for 15 NOAA users (base year) plus up to four additional users (option years). This includes supplying desktops or laptops with specified hardware (Windows 11, Intel Core Ultra 7/9, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA RTX graphics, dual 24" monitors or equivalent), Microsoft Office/365, Adobe Acrobat, centrally managed threat prevention, and full system backup. It also covers network connectivity (1Gbps local, 1Gbps internet), firewall, central monitoring, central backup services, Helpdesk support (8am-5pm Mon-Fri), access to server-based data storage, support for UNH-provided remote workstations, and file transport services. A loaner laptop pool for offsite work is also included.
• Package B: IT service as needed: Provides on-site connectivity and technical support for NOAA-owned and managed IT Equipment for up to 20 NOAA employees/contractors at the JHC. Services include secured guest wireless, internet connectivity with firewall for six users (plus two additional in option years), Helpdesk support, and on-site technical assistance for approved service tickets.
• Package C: High-performance Data Storage: Supports data storage requirements for fast, reliable, and redundant access. This includes 110 TB of storage (base year) plus up to 100 TB additional (option years), with server/cloud-based systems, multiple redundancies, 1Gb/s+ network connectivity, native CIFS/NFS support, de-duplication, per-user permission enforcement, power protection, on-line backup, physically secured storage, and climate-controlled off-site backup storage.

One year from commencement for the base year, with four additional 12-month option periods. The government may specify the number of additional users and data storage for option years.

8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays or UNH facility closures. Contractor must maintain adequate workforce for uninterrupted performance.

• IT Security: Contractor must comply with DOC ITSBP, NOAA IT Security Manual, NOS policies, and OCS IT policies. Annual NOAA Information Technology Security Awareness Training is mandatory for all users. Government-furnished equipment (GFE) must be used and connected to the NOS internal network at least three times per week for updates and vulnerability management. Specific schedules for configuration management, vulnerability scanning, and inventory reconciliation are provided. User accounts and access privileges will be determined and issued by the Government. Strict confidentiality of provided information/data is required. Cloud services must comply with DOC and NOAA policies. Application/software development requires vulnerability planning, secure coding practices, and coordination with OCS for deployment. Compliance with DOC ITSBP, CITRs, and NOAA IT Security Manual is required. Contractor must ensure IT systems are engineered for trustworthiness and security. Security controls, documentation, and continuous monitoring are required. Vulnerability scanning and remediation are mandated at specific intervals. Solutions must not contain spyware or malicious software. Data transmission must be encrypted and approved. Source code review and scanning are required. All electronic information/data/software must be scanned for malicious software. Privacy-related clauses (PII, BII) apply, and secure transmission methods must be used. Encryption is required for sensitive information sent electronically.
• License Rights: The Government shall have unlimited rights in works first produced, created, or generated under this contract. Copyrights in such works must be assigned to the Government. The Contractor grants the Government a royalty-free, world-wide, nonexclusive, irrevocable license for use of works. Third-party copyrighted works require written approval and evidence of license rights.
• Indemnification: The Contractor shall indemnify the Government against liabilities arising from proprietary rights violations, copyrights, privacy/publicity rights, or unlawful matter contained in furnished works.

Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole Source Contract

This notice indicates the Government's intent to negotiate a sole source contract with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for Information Technology (IT) support services. This support is for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, specifically for personnel and contractors at the Joint Hydrographic Center located at UNH.

• Annual IT support for NOAA employees and contractors working collaboratively with UNH researchers.

• Services include computers and services, basic IT services, data storage for high-resilience data, and bulk data storage.

• The support must be tightly integrated with the UNH IT infrastructure.

• The requirement is for approximately 15 NOAA users, potentially increasing to 19 users in option years.

• The proposed contract is a five-year, firm-fixed-price agreement.

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541519 (Other Computer Related Services).

• The small business size standard for this NAICS code is $34M.

• Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are invited to submit an affirmative response.

• Responses must include a comprehensive understanding of the requirement and a detailed narrative statement of capability, including technical information.

• Responses are due within five calendar days from the date of the notice, no later than 4:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on April 1, 2026.

• Responses must be submitted via e-mail to Michael J. Williams at Michael.J.Williams@noaa.gov.

• The Government will determine whether to open the requirement to competition based on the responses received.

• This is a notice of intent for a sole source negotiation, not an open solicitation.

• Attachment 1 is a Draft Statement of Work.